The Best Lenses for iPhone Photography

After three years spent testing more than 50 smartphone lenses, we think that Moment’s lenses are the best way to expand on the lens in your smartphone’s camera.

Your guide

Erin Lodi

After conducting hands-on testing with 50 smartphone lenses over four years while traveling to the Grand Canyon, Hawaii, and the French countryside, we think Moment’s Wide 18mm and Tele 58mm lenses are the best for mobile-photography enthusiasts who use their smartphone as seriously as they use any other camera. For more casual smartphone shooters who enjoy taking snapshots, we also have a more budget-friendly pick.

Buying Options

For avid smartphone photographers concerned about high-quality results and a well-designed mounting system, Moment lenses are worth the investment. Unlike cheaper plastic lenses that can slightly degrade you images, Moment uses large glass optics that create sharp images with little to no distortion across the entire frame. The Wide 18mm Lens expands your iPhone’s field of view just enough to feel like a fresh perspective (about 0.63x magnification). The 2x Tele 58mm Lens extends your iPhone’s optical zoom a bit farther without degrading your image quality as digital zoom can.

Both lenses require a Moment Photo Case, which is an additional $40 purchase. Mounting and unmounting is smoothest and easiest of the lens systems we tested—you just twist in or out, similar to a DSLR—and lenses remain firmly attached. We’ve preferred caseless lens systems in the past, but the Moment cases are so protective, stylish, and easy to use that we didn’t mind keeping them on, even when we weren’t using the lenses.

Buying Options

If you’re looking to capture everyday snapshots that don’t need to be photographically perfect, the Ztylus Revolver M Series Lens Kit can expand your mobile photography possibilities broadly in a sleek system with a protective case. Six tiny lenses—a wide angle/telephoto, macro/super macro, and fish-eye/telephoto combo—are contained in a circular disc that magnetically attaches to the included Ztylus case. Image quality is on a par with that of other plastic lens attachments we’ve tried, but if you’re just looking for a fun twist on your social media snaps, especially when travelling, this Ztylus system is a smartly designed solution that’s more affordable than a Moment lens and case.

Buying Options

The Amir 3-in-1 Phone Lens Kit set stands out from similar options because its wide lens (0.4x magnification) provides a useful field of view that goes beyond what your smartphone can capture without veering into fish-eye territory—similar to a GoPro. In terms of image quality, these lenses are a noticeable step below both the Ztylus Revolver M Series Lens Kit, with blurring throughout the frame, including the center. They are also easier to lose and damage with more tiny parts. But they are a fun and affordable way to experiment prior to committing to a more expensive setup.

Why you should trust me

I’m a photojournalist, a writer, and a professional photographer, and I have a wide range of experience researching, testing, and writing about photography trends, techniques, and tools—including in my role as mobile-imaging editor at DPReview, the most popular camera review site on the Web.

I’ve been researching and writing about smartphone lenses for this guide since 2015 and have tested dozens of models along the way. I also read up on every recommended smartphone lens attachment we could find on the Internet and considered what highly respected review sites such as TechRadar, The Phoblographer, CNET, and Fstoppers had to say. We also asked friends with various levels of smartphone-photography prowess what they would want out of such an attachment.

Who this is for

Smartphone lens attachments are useful to anyone trying to get more out of their phone’s built-in camera. They allow you to appear either closer to your subject or farther away from it without reducing resolution much. This mimics the effect you’d get from switching lenses on a DSLR or mirrorless camera. The photos aren’t always perfect, resulting in distortion, blurriness, color shifts, or all of the above, but depending on your intended use, these drawbacks may be perfectly tolerable.

Most people fall into one of two categories of smartphone photographer: the enthusiast who uses their phone’s camera just as seriously and frequently as they would any other camera in their arsenal, and the more casual snapshot shooter.

Mobile-photography enthusiasts should consider higher-quality lenses that are heavier and more expensive but give you exceptional results. With lenses such as these, you get much of the imaging capabilities of a cheap point-and-shoot camera with the familiar UI, mobility, and connectivity of your phone.

If you consider yourself more of a casual smartphone shooter, a better option might be a plastic lens combo to up your Instagram game without the investment. Plastic lenses can’t deliver the superior sharpness of more expensive glass models but they are a fun way to expand your phone’s photography capabilities with different focal lengths.

Finally, if you’re a simple or newbie smartphone shooter just looking for a fun photography toy to experiment with, a cheap clip-on lens set is a great starting point. Lens quality can’t compare with spendier models but results should suffice for social media sharing.

How we picked

We focused first on finding a good wide-angle option, as that’s one of the most practical applications of adding a lens attachment to the fixed focal length of a smartphone lens. For this update, we used the iPhone XS, which has a wide-angle lens with a fixed focal length of about 26mm.

A telephoto lens might be the next most useful lens for many smartphone shooters, though the iPhone XS comes with an additional 52mm telephoto lens. The dual-lens system doesn’t default to using the telephoto lens, however, and will still sometimes use the wider lens, opting for digital zoom over optical zoom, and will always use the wider lens for metering information. Digital zoom reduces overall resolution, which produces a grainier photo. A third-party app like ProCamera or Moment’s own app will let you select the tele lens.

Macro and ultrawide fish-eye lenses are the next most common, though they tend to fall more into the “fun” category, as the iPhone already allows you to shoot quite close to objects and the fish-eye look is likely one you wouldn’t use in your everyday arsenal.

Regardless of which type of lens you decide on, we wanted to make lens-attachment recommendations that help produce amazing photos, and these were the criteria we applied in sorting the good from the bad:

A wider-angle or telephoto lens additionshouldn’t cause significant distortion (warped objects or altered perspective) or vignetting (darkening at the edges of the frame). However, fish-eye lenses are designed to distort intentionally.

The lens should be easy to attach (and unattach) and highly portable. If aligning the lens with your smartphone’s camera is difficult, attaching the lens to its accompanying case takes too long, or the lenses are a pain to take along, you won’t bother.

If a case is required, it should be protective and attractive enough to use every day. Or it should be so easy to apply and remove that you don’t mind doing so. For example, we dismissed a number of cases that both look like sci-fi movie props and are difficult to remove.

You shouldn’t have to entirely replace your lens attachment when you upgrade your iPhone. Any modifications to keep it working with the newest model should be reasonably priced.

We preferred a reliable manufacturer. We looked for companies with a proven track record and a wide library of products.

Finally, a lens attachment shouldn’t run you much more than $100. Such an add-on ought to be a fun gadget, and we can’t imagine spending more than around a Benjamin for the luxury.

How we tested

Photo: Erin Lodi

Using the above criteria, we narrowed our list of lenses to 50 smartphone lens attachments, 12 of which we conducted hands-on testing with for the latest iteration of this guide in late 2018 and early 2019. We tested well-known options from Olloclip and the now defunct Photojojo, as well as from names that are big in the camera world, such as Manfrotto and Zeiss, and considered lenses that our readers asked about, such as Sirui lenses. We toted the most promising candidates around Seattle, testing them in some everyday shooting situations. We filled our backpack with them and put them to work while hiking in the Cascade Mountains. We brought them along on an epic summer road trip to see the Grand Canyon, took them sightseeing in France, and packed them in our beach bag on Maui. For our latest update we used the iPhone XS in our testing.

The variety of testing conditions allowed us see how the lenses performed in real life, helping us determine not just how they performed photographically but also how convenient they were for shooting on the go.

We carefully reviewed the results to determine which models were acceptable and we considered this further hands-on experience to reach our final conclusion.

Buying Options

Moment’s recently redesigned Wide 18mm and Tele 58mm lenses and case-mounted system remain our top choice for serious mobile photographers because they offer top-notch image quality with an outstanding mounting system using the company’s attractive, portable cases. That combination of excellent optics and ease of use makes Moment stand out among its rapidly growing competition.

We tested version 2 of the .63x-magnification wide-angle lens (an 18mm equivalent; about one and a half times as wide as the standard iPhone lens) and version 2 of the 2x telephoto lens (58mm equivalent). In an appeal to photography fanatics, Moment defines equivalent lens length in the nomenclature typically reserved for full-frame camera systems. In our tests images came out crisp and clear, with very little distortion and no noticeable darkening of our images’ corners.

Moment’s glass lenses are heavy compared with other smartphone lenses but easy to use. You’ll definitely notice their weight in your hand and your pocket, but the solid mounting system and superior optics are worth the portability hit. They are easy to stow in a bag or pocket when not in use because each comes with a lens cap to protect from dust and scratching and a small drawstring microfiber bag, which can also be useful for wiping off smudges. You can also leave a lens attached and toss your phone into your bag or back pocket; in our testing with the newest lenses and cases, the lens stayed on.

Moment lenses are among the most expensive in this category in part because in addition to the cost of the lens, you also have to purchase the company’s case to use it, such as the Moment Photo Case we used in our testing. The lenses attach to the Moment case using a bayonet mount, like attaching a lens to your DSLR. Each lens can fit over either of the iPhone XS’s dual lenses. Moment requires a case so its lenses will be properly centered in front of—and the optimal distance in front of—your smartphone’s camera.

We have been hesitant to recommend a lens accessory that required the use of a case in the past but we liked the Moment case so much we started using it whether we had the lenses with us or not. The case feels comfortable and smooth in hand, with enough rubbery grip on the edges to keep your phone secure. The case system also makes it easier to continue using your Moment lenses when you upgrade your phone; a new case is an inevitable purchase with each new phone, but the glass should work with the next generation of your device. Moment supports iPhones 6 to XR/XS, plus Google Pixel, OnePlus and Samsung models.

The scene again with the tele lens of the iPhone XS paired with Moment’s tele lens. Photo: Erin Lodi

Moment’s tele lens lets you get closer to your subject using optical zoom, not digital zoom, which can degrade image quality. Here’s the scene using the wide-angle lens of the iPhone XS without Moment’s tele lens. Photo: Erin Lodi

The same scene zoomed in by pairing the wide lens on the iPhone XS with Moment’s tele lens. Photo: Erin Lodi

The scene again with the tele lens of the iPhone XS paired with Moment’s tele lens. Photo: Erin Lodi

Moment’s tele lens lets you get closer to your subject using optical zoom, not digital zoom, which can degrade image quality. Here’s the scene using the wide-angle lens of the iPhone XS without Moment’s tele lens. Photo: Erin Lodi

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If you’re ready to invest further in mobile photography, Moment offers more accessories than any of its competitors, from two- and four-lens carrying cases to wrist and neck straps to cases that include a shutter button with half-press functionality when paired with the Moment app. That app offers separate focus and exposure controls, as well as RAW photo capabilities. Moment also offers a filter mount that lets you use 62mm threaded filters, such as a circular polarizer, UV, or neutral density, with any of its lenses. All of this continuing innovation is reassuring if you’re looking to invest in a system that’s changing fast.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Moment has increased its prices across the board. At a cost that’s about one and a half times that of other high-quality competitors, Moment has further solidified its product as a serious tool for photography enthusiasts. If you count yourself in that category, we think you’ll feel the quality of the Moment system justifies the cost.

The 2.0 version of the Moment wide is larger than its predecessor and more glass can mean more opportunity for sun flare, which we observed on occasion. A well-placed hand may suffice in lieu of a lens hood.

As with nearly all of the lenses we tested, you can’t use your phone camera’s flash when using Moment, which the lens attachment covers up.

Buying Options

The Internet is awash with inexpensive smartphone lens sets that include multiple types of lenses, but the Ztylus Revolver M Series Lens Kit makes it easy to switch between lenses while keeping all of the lenses safe inside one removable piece. A circular disc contains six small lenses and magnetically attaches to the included Ztylus case, which is required to use the lenses. You rotate the disc to slide each plastic lens duo—a wide-angle/telephoto, macro/super macro, and fish-eye/telephoto—over the dual lens of your iPhone (we tested with an XS) camera to create a variety of creative, if not optically perfect, results. It’s a pretty slick system that keeps all of the lenses from getting lost and protected from dirt and damage inside the disc.

The disc easily pops off when not in use. The case is good enough to use every day; it’s fairly thin, offers a good grip on the sides, and comes in a wide assortment of colors and patterns.

The Ztylus Revolver M six-in-one kit’s super macro lens lets you get extreme close-up shots, such as this one of the fibers of a beach towel. Photo: Erin Lodi

The Ztylus Revolver M Series Lens Kit also comes in a four-in-one option with a wide, macro, fish-eye, and circular polarizer filter for single-lens phones. Made for single-lens phones, it’s available for the iPhone 7 and newer, for some Samsung models, and the Huawei Mate 10 Pro.

These small plastic lenses will cause some blurring, distortion, and vignetting, but the quality degradation shouldn’t interfere if you’re just looking for a way to add flavor to your social media snapshots.

Buying Options

The Amir 3-in-1 Phone Lens Kit is a solid choice if you’re not ready to commit to a more expensive and case-based lens accessory system and aren’t overly concerned about image quality. The kit features a 0.4x wide-angle lens that delivers a wide field of view that was more useful than the ones included in similar lens kits, which were either ineffective or so wide that they veered into fish-eye territory. A 10x macro and 180-degree fish-eye lens are also included. Each can be fitted over the front-facing lens or rear lens(es)—and even some slim phone cases.

The Amir kit is fun and affordable, but image quality doesn’t stack up well against the Moment or Ztylus: You’ll notice some softening and distortion at the edge of the frame, and we sometimes saw darker corners. But maybe these subtle flaws aren’t a major concern if you’re just looking to jazz up your Instagram story with some new angles.

For cute, casual snapshots, the clip-on Amir 3-in-1 Phone Lens Kit is a fun and inexpensive way to experiment with the possibilities of mobile photography. Photo: Erin Lodi

Each lens and clip is about the size of a car key and slips easily into a pocket when not in use. We’re sure the plastic lens caps would be quickly lost, as they fall off easily, but as long as you keep the included lens cloth with you for removing dust and don’t store the lenses somewhere that’s likely to scratch the glass, these seem to hold up well enough for occasional use.

These clip-on lenses fit the iPhone and most other brands of smartphones and will likely fit the next generations of these devices as well. Of course, new phone designs that place cameras away from the edge of the phone, such as the Nokia 9 PureView, put their cameras out of reach of these clips. If you’d like to share these lenses between a couple of phones or tablets in your household, this kit has the versatility to work with quite a few different devices.

We found the Amir lenses fit with some thinner smartphone cases (such as the Apple case we recommend), but not with all of the thin cases we tried. If your current case doesn’t work with the Amir lens set, we recommend investing in a thin case to use while shooting with the lens clip-ons; it’s always less expensive than replacing your phone.

These type of clip-on lenses are prone to slipping out of position and off the phone entirely. For careful and casual use, they’re a fun way to experiment with your iPhone photography, but you do risk ruining your images with dark corners and blurring if the lens slips even only slightly.

The competition

Sandmarc’s wide and tele lenses deliver sharp images with little distortion but they can’t compete with Moment’s quality case and bayonet-style mount. Instead Sandmarc lenses come with a thin, hard plastic case and a screw-on mount that makes it difficult to put the lens on and take it off quickly. We think it’s worth spending a bit more for a better attachment system.

We don’t think the Olloclip Fisheye + Super-Wide + Macro Essential Lenses combo is worth the price. The lenses attach via a redesigned clip that doesn’t work well with a case—even the newest Olloclip case. We couldn’t pair the lenses with the Olloclip case without seeing some vignetting, so we had to remove it. It seems to us the new iPhone XS may be one of the most slippery versions of the iPhone we’ve ever seen—as well as the most expensive—making it riskier than ever to use a lens system that requires you to remove your protective case.

Olloclip’s larger Super-Wide Pro Lens and Telephoto Pro Lens also use the same clip attachment that slides over the top of your phone but can’t be used with a case. However, these pro lenses don’t come with the clip mount, so the price becomes pretty spendy for a single lens plus a clip that you must purchase separately. We always have a hard time recommending anything that requires you to use your phone without a case, especially if you’re spending well over $100.

The Sirui 18mm Wide Angle and 60mm Portrait lenses appear to be a close competitor to Moment lenses at about half the price. However, these heavy lenses use a clip attachment, and in our experience a heavy lens mounted via a clip makes the phone feel off balance and is easy to knock off kilter (owner reviews confirmed this experience for Sirui too). Sirui doesn’t yet offer a case for the newest iPhones that we used in our testing, but does for the iPhone X, and some reviewers say Sirui lenses fit the Moment case. However, at that point, you’ve already crossed the $100 mark and at that threshold we would rather invest in a system like Moment with a bit more history, a more robust library of products, and a faster response time on updating its products for the latest iPhone model.

Bitplay’s wide and tele lenses look quite a lot like Moment lenses and use a similar-looking case-mounting system, though a new version for the iPhone XS was not yet available during our testing. We may consider these lenses in the future, but at this point a Bitplay case and lens combo is nearly the price of Moment without the longevity and product library behind the brand. ShiftCam falls into this category of Moment lookalikes too, again without a tremendous amount of savings and without the product history or library.

Ztylus’s set of larger Z-Prime lenses includes a telephoto, wide-angle, and macro lens and lens mount. You can adjust the metal lens mount by screwing it in to tighten but it remains susceptible to being bumped out of alignment. We had to remove our case for the lens mount to fit over the phone. A Ztylus case with a lens mount is available for an additional $20 but in our testing the lenses proved too heavy and allowed for light leaks. The lenses are significantly larger than Moment lenses with screw-on metal lens caps that seem unnecessarily heavy. A hard plastic rear lens cap feels destined to be lost.

You’ll find a lot of cheap lens-attachment options when searching online, which continue to be best sellers on Amazon. But popularity doesn’t equate to quality and we ruled out a lot of contenders that looked promising but failed to deliver adequate results. As with most small tech products, you can find several companies selling what appear to be identical products on Amazon. Though these products may well be the same and are likely sourced from the same original manufacturers, the brands reselling them can differ in the level of quality control and customer support they offer. When we encountered seemingly identical products in our research, we took price, reviews, and the brand’s track record into consideration.

Nelomo is a newer inexpensive lens set that uses a clip-mount system that you screw to tighten onto your phone. It comes with a trio of lens options. However, even when secured tightly it was easy to accidentally knock the mount off-kilter. Nelomo remains at the higher end of the budget-priced lens kits but displays many of the common issues of cheaper lenses, including distortion and blurry images.

The Amir 2-in-1 Camera Lens Kit is one of the popular larger lens clip-on sets. Bigger wasn’t better in this case, however, as our test images showed barrel distortion and soft edges. The larger lenses also make your phone feel quite unbalanced when shooting, and the clip mount is easy to bump off center. They also felt too big and heavy to slip into a pocket or small bag.